Patent GB-194306-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record-card-controlled machines for counting statistical data
Filed: 1923-03-02
Abstract: 194,306. British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Lake, C. D.). March 3, 1922, [Convention date]. Statistical machines.-In an electricallycontrolled statistical machine having one card-contact brush so that only one column may be investigated at a time, each index point in a column has a corresponding counter, so that when a perforation in the column comes under the brush, one is added to the appropriate counter. For cards in which the columns have each twelve possible perforations (1 - - 9-O-R-X) there are twelve counters 24, Fig. 1; a thirteenth counter 25 counts the total number of cards which are perforated in any way in the column under the brush; and a fourteenth, 26, counts the total number of cards passing, whether perforated in this columm or not. The cards 10, Fig. 9, are fed by a. picker 11 between rollers 12, 13, a common conductor bar 38, and a brush 39 adjustable along the shaft 39<a>, and on to the discharge stack. In passing, the card also moves a lever 50 to close contacts 52. A main tabulator- or counter-controlling shaft 19, Fig. 3, drives three shafts 22 carrying cams 23 which operate the links of the counters of the Veeder type. A cam shaft 32, Fig. 3, driven from the shafts 22 carrier twelve cams 62, Fig. 9, one for each index point in the column, and three extra cams 78, 72, 66; these cams 62 being so arranged that the necessary contact is made in each counter circuit just at the moment the corresponding index point upon the card comes under the brush. To start the machine a switch 40 leading to a source of current is closed, completing a circuit through a line 33, emergency stop key 42 (now closed), starting key 41 (now closed), motor relay 43, motor 17, and back to line. The energization of relay 43 establishes a holding circuit which keeps the motor 17 in operation and permits of releasing the starting-key. Card contacts 48, 49 are closed in the D-stop position and are ineffective until a card moves the lever 50, when a circuit is completed including contacts 48, 49, 52, and relays 54, 56; the energizing of relay 54 establishes a circuit which short-circuits contacts 49, 52 and permits the last card to pass through the machine; and the circuit to relays 54, 56 is broken once per card cycle by cam contacts 57, 48. Energization of relay 56 makes a holding circuit for the main motor circuit, which is thus maintained when contact 47 opens once per cycle. Further, upon energizing the relay 54 current is supplied to the bar 38, so that when a perforation is under the brush current flows to line 60, the appropriate contact 62 (now closed), and the corresponding relay 63, thus energizing the correct counter-magnet 64. From the magnets 64 (4 - - 9 positions) current flows through a common line 65, cam contacts 66 (which break the circuit after the adding operation), relay 67, and to line; and from magnets 64 (R-X-0 .. 3 positions) current flows through a common line 65a, relay 67, and to line, cam contacts 72 breaking tha circuit as in the case of contacts 66. This circuit for the relays 63 comprises two sections having common lines 68, 69 extending to the post of relay 70 and the post 53 of relay 54 respectively. When the relay 6, say, of the series 63 is energized, relay 67 is also energized, attracts its armature, and establishes a circuit including wire 71, contacts 72, wires 73, 74, armature of relay 67, and relays 70, 75, 76; relay 70 then establishing a holding circuit short-circuiting the wire 74. The circuit through relays 70, 75, 76 is indirectly used to control the counters 25, 26, and after this control is secured once per cycle, contacts 72 break the circuit. When energized, relay 76 breaks a circuit used to control a bell 77, and the stopping of the machine when a card passes, which is not perforated in the column under the brush. Relav 75 makes a control circuit for the counter 25, including contacts 78 (now closed) and the control magnets 82, 80 of the counter 25, 26 respectively. If the card passing has no perforation in the column, relays 63, 67, 70, 75, or 76 will not be energized; but when contacts 78 are closed a circuit is made including relays 83, 76 and switch 84: and if this switch is in the full line position of Fig. 9, cards perforated in the column are counted on both 25 and .26, and cards not so perforated are not counted at all. For the dotted line position of switch 84, magnet 80 is energized by the "blank" cards also, which are then added on counter 26. When a card not perforated in the column passes through, a holding circuit is made through the bell 77, which rings until this circuit is broken by stop-key 42 being pressed. In order not to count cards having particular index point perforations, the switches 61 corresponding to these perforations are opened. To reset all the counters except 26 to zero a handle 90 is provided on a shaft 91, Fig. 3, which drives the resetting wheels 93. In the case of counter 26, a switch 95, Fig. 1, is provided with controls rocking gears so that, if desired, this counter may be reset with the other counters or may go on accumulating. Operation and item counters. - The counteractuating mechanism is as described in Specification 215,784, in which each counter 24, Fig. 7, has a link 27 normally restored to the right by the usual spring means and connected to a bellcrank 28 having a projection 28<a> engaging the cam 23 and a shoulder 28b engaged by a latch 29 on the armature of the counter-shaft 64. Upon energization of this magnet the shoulder 28b is released and the counter is actuated by link 27 to add one, rotation of the cam 23 relatching the shoulder 28b at the correct moment in the cycle; this relatching is also ensured by a member operated by a supplementary cam on the shaft 22 and knocking the armature 29 away from its magnet 64.